Phonograph



Aug. 23, 1932. J. P. STOCKTON PHONOGRAPH Filed March 18, 1927 11 Sheets-Sheet l NQN INVENTOR M Gian, M

ATTORNEY Aug. A3. 1932.

J. P. STOCKTON 1,873,358

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if T 9 a: k b I k a a ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. STOCKTON 1,873,358

PHONOGRAPH Filed larch 18. 1927 Sheets-Sheet 3 B Y 3/ 7r -5. l

mu i- 37 l NVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. J. P. STOCKTON PHQNOGRAPH l Filed larch 18. 1927 11'SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR M pnlz M ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. J. P. STOCKTON 1,873,353

PHONOGRAPH Filed larch 18. 1927 ll'sheets-sheet 5 Aug. 23, l 932.

J. P. STOCKTON raonoamrn Filed latch 18 1927 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. J. P. STOCKTON 1,373,358

PHONOGRAPH Filed larch 18. 1927 Sheets-Sheet 8 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII;

Aug. 23, 1932. J. P. STOCKTON 1,373,358

PHOHOGRAPH Filed larch 18. 1927 ll-SMets-Sheet 9 N, Q a} i if a '1- .1 P k ,I a I 1 f a ATTORNEY .llllll-lulll.

11 Sheets-Sheet 10 W awafim BY I ATTORNEY J. P. STOCKTON PHONOGRAPH Filed larch 18. 1927 8- 23, 1932- J. P. STOCKTON "1,873,353

PHONOGRAPH Filed larch 18, 1927 11'SheetsSheet 11 mvsmoa 0mg, cm

ATTORNEY to record laterally from the the reproducer 1s raised or lifted 1 central Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACK POTTER STOCKTON, OF SPRING LAKE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STBOMBERG- CARLSON TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PHONOGRAPH Application filed March 18, 1927. Serial No. 176,432.

The present invention relates to phonographs and is more particularly directed toward the provision of a phonograph or talking machine having suitable devices for automatically playing a series of records one after another, or a single record a number of times, the instrument being preferably so arranged that a single adjusting device may be utilized for controlling the playing of the series of records, or the single record, or repeating the playing of a desired record in the series.

According to the present invention, the repeating phonograph is characterized by a rotatable playing platform provided with a suitable centering means, such as a pin, for holding the records on the center of the platform, and the phonograph is free of obstruction above the playing platform which might interfere with placing a series of records on the platform or removing them. This provides an instrument wherein the records may be handled without removing obstructing mechanism.

The present invention contemplates an automatically repeating phonograph wherein the desired records are stacked on top of one another on a rotatable playing platform having a central pin and preferably slightly tilted; and the platform is continuously driven while the instrument is in operation while playing the records in the stack. According to the present invention, the uppermost record is played in the same manner that one plays an ordinary non-repeating phonograph. It is, however, unnecessary to stop the platform and records before the next record is played, or the same record replayed.

According to the preferred construction,

from the record while the record is still rotating, and the record is then disengaged from the center pin, as for example, by changing the relation between the playing platform and the pin the thickness of one record after the record is disengaged from the pin, it is then caused in any suitable manner to change, for an instant, the center about which it is rotating, thereby shifting the center of the center of rotation of the platform. This record, while still rotating is resting on top of the rotating support and being off center is quickly removed and then rolls or whirls into a storage magazine or chamber. The utilization of the kinetic energy in the rotating record for accomplishing the removal of the record, is an important factor in the operation of the present repeating phonograph when successively playing records.

The invention also contemplates suitable time control devices such an adjustable mechanism operating with the phonograph driving motor, or a dash pot, for predetermining the time that the reproducer is held out of playing position. In this manner one is able to vary the intermission between the playing of records from a few seconds to a long interval.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a phonograph of the above type in which substantially all the operating mechanism for effecting repeat operation is concealed underneath the table of the phonograph, thereby leaving the top of the table and record platform unobstructed by a storage magazine for the records to be played or devices for moving the records to and from the playing platform. By so constructing the instrument, one is enabled to place the controls in a convenient position, do away with unsightly cumbersome mechanisms and leave the top of the phonograph open and suitable for playing records singly in the ordinary manner, or for the manipulation of a radio receiving set placed in the same cabinet.

In accomplishing the foregoing, one may use a sound box (with or without a goose neck) mounted on the tone arm in the usual manner. The tone arm is hinged about a horizontal axis at the throat, and me hanism underneath the table is connected with the tone arm near the throat so as to bodily raise the tone arm and reproducer to remove the needle from the record and hold it elevated until the'next record is ready to be played and the time control mechanism above referred tothas functioned to lower it to playing pos1 lon.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a single control element, such as a shaft, which is set into operation when the playing of a record has been completed to control the sequence of operation of the various mechanisms by which the played record is removed and the playing of the succeeding record begun.

While the foregoing has more specially referred to the playing of a series of records one after another, it is, of course, to be understood that the invention also contemplates that the same instrument is capable of repeatedly playing a single record a desired number of times with the desired intermission between records.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the invention, two of the many possible embodiments in which the present invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of operating mechanism for the automatic phonograph, the parts being shown in the playing position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the phonograph of Figure 1, with the parts shown in playing position, certain parts being shown in section, and other parts omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2a is a fragmentary elevational view taken in the same direction as Figure 2 and showing the parts in position after the tone arm has been raised;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the motor and rotating platform showing the rack and pinion for elevating the platform; v

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1, showing the control shaft and parts carried thereby;

Figure 4a is a fragmentary elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 4a of Figure 4 and showing the clutches and gears carried on the control shaft;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through the gear box onthe line 5'5 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a view taken along the lines 66 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through the centering pin and record removal mechanism in playing position;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views of the upper part of the mechanism shown in Figure 7 showing these a parts in different positions;

Figure 11 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 11 of Figure 1 and illustrating the variable time control mechanism for predeterming the interval between the records;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Figure'l and showing the nechanism for presetting the rotating platorm;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12 and showing the automatic switch for opening the motor circuit after the last record of the series has been discarded from the platform;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a combined radio receiving set and phonograph;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 1515 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 and showing a modified embodiment of the automatic phonograph;

Figure 17 is a side elevational view of the phonograph of Figure 16 with parts shown in playing position, certain parts being in section and others omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 18 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 1818 of Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a top plan view of a phonograph employing the mechanism shown in Figure 16, with parts broken away to show the automatic trip and resetting mechanism;

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the removal of a record from the rotating platform;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Figure 20;

Figure 22 is a side view of an automatic phonograph wherein the played records are discharged into a receptacle at the side of the cabinet and Figure 23 is a sectional view on the. line 2323 of Figure 22. I 7

As previously indicated, the phonograph to be described in detail herein is one in which it is possible to either play a series or group of records up to the capacity of the machine, one after the other, or to repeat the playing of a selected record a predetermined number of times under the control of dually functioning mechanism which may be set manually. It is also possible accord ing to the present construction to have the phonograph repeat a record several times' and then play the remaining records successively. It is also possible to so set the control mechanism that the phonograph will play a single record indefinitely. All of these functions are carried out by the same mechanism depending upon the number of records placed on the playing platform and the setting of a single control device. To carry out the foregoing operations, the phonograph is provided with a number of mechanisms. The mechanisms employed in the norinal operation of the phonograph by which a series or group of records is played facilitate record removal.

successively will first be referred to in general and then, described in detail.

The series or group of records A is placed on a rotating playing platform B which may be driven in anysuitable manner from a motor C. The records are held in placeby centering means such as a in D while the relative elevation of the p atform and centering means may be adjusted so as to hold all of the records of the group or any lesser number. The motor and playing platform are preferably tilted slightly to A swinging reproducer support such as a tone arm E carries a conventional reproducer F of the sound box type, or an electrical pick up. The arm E is mounted so that the reproducer may cooperate with the playing surface of the record in the ordinary manner. The motor C is provided with a suitable speed governing mechanism, and also pref erably operates all the mechanisms for effecting the above operations automatically depending upon the presetting of the control mechanism. This motor driven mechanism includes a shaft and associated apparatus which is automatically set into operation after the completion of the playing of a record for carrying out the desired cycle of operations whereby the records are played successively. This apparatus is normally disconnected from the motor drive and is idle except during the interval between the playing of the records.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 15; inclusive, the means for automatically setting this apparatus into operation after the completion of the playing of a record is in the form of an automatic trip G which may be actuated by the movement of the tone arm brou ht about by eccentric grooves in the recor to clutch a motor driven shaft to the apparatus for carrying out the cycle of operations. This apparatus includes a tone arm elevatingdevice, desi ated generally by the letter H; a plat orm elevating mechanism, designated generally by the letter I, and normally operably connected by a clutch J; mechanism for effecting the removal of the top record from the rotating playing platform, designated generally by the letter K; mechanism, designated generally by the letter L, for resetting the automatic trip G so that it will again function and also preferably resetting the clutch control to open the clutch at the proper time; mechanism M for returning the reproducer support or tonearm to the initial position above the next record; and an adjustable time control mechanism N, preferably set into operation by the tone arm lifting mechanism H and actuated directly from the phonograph motor C, which acts as a clock, whereby the lowering of the tone arm is delayed and the interval between records is controlled. There is also interconnected with the platform elevating mechanism I, a presetting mechanism 0 for placing the platform at the desired hei ht to accommodate the desired number 0% records. This presetting mechanism is so arranged that it moves with the playing platform as the records are discarded and the presetting mechanism 0 is preferably provided with an automatic switch P which will open the motor circuit after the last record has been played.

In order to permit the repeat playing of a record as distinguished from the successive playing of records ofa series or group, the presetting mechanism 0 is so arranged that the mere setting of this mechanism to a desired position predetermines the number of times the record is played before it is discarded from the playing platform and the automatic switch P opened When one desires to play the same record an indefinite number of times a locking mechanism Q associated with the presetting mechanism 0 may be actuated to disconnect the clutch J whereby the platform elevating mechanism I is disabled without affecting the operation of any of the other apparatus.

A number of phonograph records 30, making up the series or group A, is placed on a rotatable playing platform 31 which is keyed to a centering pin 32. This pin is drivingly connected to the motor C which, as here shown, has a, rotating disk 33 driven from stationary pole pieces 34. The motor C is mounted in any convenient manner underneath the top or table 35 of the phonograph and the table and motor are preferably slightly tilted as indicated in Figure 2.

The playing platform 31 is rotatably carried on a ball bearing 36 mounted in a bearing supporting member 37. This bearing supportlng member is provided with two downwardly extending supporting rods 38 and 39 which are slidably mounted in a casting 40 preferably rigidly attached to the motor (1' The rods 38 and 39 are each provided with rack teeth as indicated at 41 which mesh with gears 42 and 43 connected to the platform elevating mechanism I above referred to, by means of which the platform may be moved relative to the centering means or pin 32.

The tone arm E, carrying the reproducer F on a goose neck, if desired, is mounted on ball bearings 45 supported in a cage 46 so that it may swing over the record in the usual manner. As shown in Figures 2 and 2a, the cage 46 is hinged or pivoted at 47 I behind the throat of the tone arm so that it may be swung bodily upward about this axis to raise the reproducer off the record. The swinging tone arm E carries a finger 52 which is moved with the tone arm as it plays over the record and is raised off the record.

The automatic trip and clutch The automatic trip mechanism G shown herein is one which is designed to be acua-ted by the movement of the tone arm away from the center-in" pin, which movement is brought about y eccentrically located grooves 50 (see Figure 14) into which the stylus on the reproducer passes after the sound record has been played. This movement of the tone arm will cause the arm 52 to swing a slight amount in a counter clockwise direction after the record has been played.

This automatic trip mechanism is mounted on a supporting plate'53 carried in any convenient manner, preferably underneath the table 35 of the phonograph. A swinging plate 55, pivoted on a post 56 on this sup porting plate 53. is provided with prongs 57 and 58 which cooperate with a fixed stop 59 carried by the supporting plate to limit the movement of the pivoted plate 55. A lever 60, pivoted at 601 on the plate 55, is bifurcated as indicated at 60a and 60b to have a limited freedom of movement relative to the pivot post 56, the lever .60 being held normally against the pivot post by a spring 61 carried by it and connected to a stationary abutment 62 carried by the supporting plate 53. The swinging plate 56 may be moved to the position shown in the drawings by the arm 60, and is adapted to be held there by means of a bell crank trigger member 63 pivoted at 64 on the supporting plate 53 and having a nose 65 which engages behind the bifurcation 600 on the lever 60, the bell crank being held in this position b a small spring 66 also connected to the abutment 62. A swinging lever 67 is pivoted at 68 on the supporting plate 53 and this lever has one arm 69 which extends toward the arm 52 carried by the swinging tone arm and a second arm 70 which extends toward the bell crank member 63. The end 70 of this swinging arm is provided with a pawl 71 pivoted at 72 and under the control of a spring 73, and adapted to pass by teeth 74 on the arm of the bell crank 63. An arm 75 is also pivoted about the pivot 68 and extends alongside the arm 69 and is held closejo it by a spring 76.

\Vhen the stylus on the reproducer is being carried toward the center of the record by the sound grooves, the arm 52 on the tone arm will swing the lever 67 and arm 75 bodily about the pivot 68 and carry the pawl 71 in a counter clockwise direction past the teeth 74 on the bell crank 63. ever, as the stylus is passed by the innermost part of the eccentric groove in the central part of the record, the arm 52 will be caused to move in a counter clockwise direction which will cause the pawl 71 to swing slight- As soon, hoW- jection 58 against the fixed stop 59.

In order to actuate the clutch mechanism,

the swinging plate 55 is provided with an arm 77 which has a lost motion pin and slot connection 78 with a link 79 connected to an arm 80 of a bell crank member 81 pivoted at 82 and adapted to be shifted slightly (after the lost motion connection 7 8 has been taken up) to shift the clutch. During the take up 0 this lost motion connection, a spring 83 is tensioned for a purpose to be described. The shifting of these parts is adapted to clutch the motor driven shaft, above referred to, to apparatus for carrying out the cycle of operations as above described.

The motor C is provided with a worm wheel drive 90 by which a shaft 91 is continuously rotated at a predetermined speed relative to the turn table or playing platform. This shaft is mounted in the ldwer part of a gear box 92 and carries a gear 93 in mesh with a gear 94 held in place on a 0ne-revolution control shaft 95 by a yoke 96 carried by the gear box.

A shiftable clutch member 97 slidably keyed on the shaft 95 is connected to the inner arm 98 of the bell crank 81. The member is provided with a projection 99 entering into a recess 100 in the face of the bearing member 101 for the control shaft 95, thereby locking the control shaft and all parts connected to it in a predetermined position. When the clutch is shifted by means of the trip mechanism which actuates the bell crank lever 81, the clutch is freed from the bearing member and a. projection 102 on the clutch member 97 enters a recess 103 in the continuously moving gear 94 thereby connecting the onerevolution shaft 95 with the power drive from the motor and setting into operation the parts carried by it.

The automatic trip G is associated with a manually operable device to actuate the trip when desired. A lever 84 near the trigger 63 is connected with a push rod extending out through the cabinet and provided with a button 86. When the button is pressed in against the spring 87, the lever 84 engages the trigger 63 to release the automatic trip and cause the clutch to start the one-revolu tion shaft 95 as though the trip had been actuated by the completion of the playing of a record.

Tone arm elevating The first operation carried out by the shaft 95 is to raise the reproducer away from the record. The tone arm elevating mechanism H shown for this purpose, includes an op- 112 while the upper link 111 is pivoted at 113' to the cage 46 supporting the tone arm, so that the tone arm is raised to the position indicated in Figure 2a when the member 109 is actuated by the arm 107 after which the arm passes by the roller. A spring 114 is connected to the knee of the toggle to be stressed as the tone arm is raised, and mechanism, described in detail in the description of the time control mechanism N, holds the tone arm elevated after the arm 107 has passed by the roller 108. The raising of the tone arm by this mechanism also starts the operation of the time control mechanism N which controls the lowering of the tone arm by the motor.

Platform elevating mechanism The platform elevating mechanism I is operated from the one-revolution shaft 95 through a second clutch, referred to above as the clutch J, and shown in detail in Fig ures 4 and 4a, in the form of a sliding member 120 keyed to the shaft and normally engaged with a pinion 121 held on the shaft by a yoke 122 so that the pinion is normally revolved with the control shaft. The pinion 121 meshes with the gear 123 carried on a countershaft 124 while a pinion 125 on the countershaft 124 meshes with a large gear 126 mounted on a shaft 127 carried from the gear box. A gear 128 on the shaft 127 drives a gear 129 which in turn drives a gear 130 carried on a shaft 131, which shaft also carries the gears 42 and 43 in mesh with the racks carried by the platform supporting bearing 37. The gear ratios of the gear train set into operationby the pinion 121 is such that the playing platform is elevated the thickness of a record for each revolution of the one-revolution shaft 95. When the clutches 97 and 120 are in the position indicated in Figures 4 and 4a, the parts are so adjusted that the centering pin is just underneath the playing surface of the record so that the upper end of the pin will not interfere with the lateral removal from the stack of a record which has been played.

The shaft 106 which is operated by the one-revolution shaft 95 through the medium of gears 104 and 105 carries a second arm 132 which is arranged so that it engages the upper end of a lever 133 to move this lever during the latter part of the rotation of the one-revolution shafts 95 and 106. The lever 133 is connected by a link 134 having a slot 135 cooperative with a pin 136 carried by the arm 137 of a bell crank 138 pivoted at 139 on the frame of the motor 0. The end of the link 134 is beveled as indicated at 140 to cooperate with a roller 141 on a bell crank 142 pivoted at 143. This bell crank has a pin and slot connection 144 with an upwardly extending wire 145. This wire passes inside a tubular member 146 which extends up through the center pin 132. The lower end ofthe tubular member has a pin and slot connection 147 with the arm 148 of the bell crank 138. This bell crank is held against a step 150 by a spring 151 and the bell crank 142 is held to the right by a spring 152. The upper end 153 of the wire 145 is bent at a sharp angle a short distance below the end, and, when the bell cranks 137 and 142 are in the position indicated in Figures 2 and 7, the wire 145 and tube 146 are a short distance below the upper end of the center tube or pin 32.

After the platform elevatin mechanism has functioned to raise the platform, the upper record is above the upper end of the center pin 32 as indicated in Figure 8. The arm 132 on the one-revolution shaft 95 then engages the lever 133 and pushes the link 134 to the left to bring the beveled surface 140 on the link against the roller 141 thereby actuating the bell crank 142 to cause the wire member 145 to move upwardly in the tube 146. The previously bent end of this wire member will, as indicated in Figure 8, tend to move laterally from the center pin and push the upper record sidewise to the position indicated in Figure 9. After the lost motion connection between the pin 136 and slot 135 has been taken up, the bell crank 137 is moved and, through the pin and slot connection 147, has caused the tube 146 to raise up as indicated in Figure 10, thereby raising the center of the record off of the lower record and allow the edge of the record to rest on the next lower record. As the record is now off center and the platform is still rotating, the record will be very quickly rolled off from the rotating platform and discharged into a receptacle R, shown in Figure 15.

Trip resetting mechanism The trip resetting mechanism L is operated at any convenient time. When the automatic trip G actuates the clutch 97, it also moves a link 154 connected to the lever 60 and through this link a finger 155 is shifted to bring it from the full line position shown in Figure 1 to a position in the path of the arm 107. When the arm 107 engages this finger 155, it swings the links back to the full line position and resets the automatic trip mechanism G to the position shown in full lines without affecting the tension in the spring 83.

Tone armretmm After the tone arm is raised to bring the reproducer away from the record, it is swung to the left to bring the reproducer above the starting position on the next record. The mechanism LI for swinging the tone arm is operated from the control shaft 95, and the carried by the swinging tone arm. The

feeler has a finger 158 which extends toward the playing platform and a downwardly extending portion 159 passing through ahole in the top of the phonograph to be in a position to be actuated by mechanism carried near the gear box 92. During the playing of a record, a laterally extending arm 160 on the feeler is carried by the swinging tone arm past a latch 161 pivoted at 162 which latch retards the feeler causing the feeler to be swung in a clockwise direction to bring the finger 158 toward the edge of the upper record. When a 12" record is on the platform, the end of the feeler will be engaged by the record and the movement of the feeler will be limited in this manner. When, however, a 10" record is being played, the finger will swing to a different position. In this manner, the angular position of the lower end 159 of the feeler will be varied depending upon the size of the record which is being played. The lower end of this finger, as indicated more clearly in Figure 6, is provided with an enlargement 163 which may be moved into or out of the path of a plunger 164. After the playing of the record has been completed, the feeler 156 will have been moved from the dotted line position of Figure 6 to the full line position to bring the enlargement 163 adjacent the plunger.

After 'the tone arm elevating mechanism,

has functioned to raise the tone arm off the record, the one-revolution shaft 95 will bring a finger 165 against the toe 166 of a bell crank 167 the other end of which engages the plunger 164. The movement of the bell crank 167 about its pivot will force the plunger to the left against the tension of the spring 168 thereby shifting the feeler mechanism and tone arm to return the tone arm to a position depending upon the angular position of the feeler on its own axis. During this backward movement of the tone arm, the lateral extension 160 on the feeler will engage the latch 162 and will freely pass by the latch which will then be returned to an upright position by a coiled spring 169. The parts are so arranged that the enlargement 163 is only presented in the path of the plunger after the playing of a 12 inch record thereby causing the tone arm to be swung back a greater distance than would be the case were the enlargement not engaged by the plunger. When the feeler mechanism is twisted to the 10 inch position, which occurs during the playing of a 10 inch record, the plunger 164 is Time controlmechaniam The time control mechanism N is operated through continuously driven mechanism connected with the shaft 91. As shown a spur gear 180 is carried by the shaft 91 and this gear meshes with a second gear 181 which drives a bevel pinion 182 in mesh with a bevel gear 183 carried on the shaft 184. This shaft will therefore rotate continuously while the phonograph motor is in operation, and will actuate a shaft 185 through a worm wheel drive 186. The shaft 185 is connected by means of bevel gears 187 and 188 with a clutch member 189 rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 190.

The horizontal member 109 which is moved by the arm 107 in elevating the tone arm is operably connected to a bell crank 191 pivoted at the rear of the phonograph. This bell crank is connected to a shift yoke 192 which engages a rotatably mounted member 193 carried on the shaft 190. This member 193 is provided with a clutch face 198 which is adapted to engage the slowly driven clutch member 189. The slidable yoke 193 carries a side yoke 199 on which is pivotally mounted a locking dog or finger 200 which is pressed inwardly toward the shaft by a small spring 201. A spring 194 wound around the member 193 and fastened to the member and yoke 192 acts on this member to hold it against a stop 195 when the clutch parts 189 and 198 are disconnected.

A setting dial 202 for the time control is suitably placed on the upper part of the instrument as indicated in Figure 11 and this dial is connected to gears 203 and 204, the gear 204 being rotatably carried on the shaft 190 and provided with a notch 205 having an oblique face. These parts permit partially turning the gear 204 to vary the angular position of the notch 205 and locking dog 200.

When the tone arm is being elevated by the tone arm elevating mechanism above referred to, the member 109 will carry a retaining dog 210 over a continuously rotating worm 211 and beyond the end of the worm a short distance, as indicated in Figure 2a. The bell crank 191 actuates the yoke 192 to cause the faces of clutch parts 198 and 189 to engage. The movement of the yoke 190 will also carry the locking dog or it, withdrawing it from the hub of the gear 204 and permitting the spring 201 to move i in against shaft 190. This pawl will then engage the face of the hub of the bevel gear 204 and will lock the slidable parts in place thereby holding the toggle in set position and the spring 114 under tension.

The continuously driven clutch member 189 will slowly move the shiftable clutch member 198 with it the yoke and dog 200 causing the end of this dog to move along the face of the gear hub until it has been brought into line with the slot 205. The spring 114 which has been holding the end of locking dog against the gear hub will now cause the nose of this dog to travel outwardly along the beveled surface of slot 205, thereby permitting the yoke 193 to slide along the shaft under the influence of the spring 114. This movement brings the retaining dog 210 against the revolving worm 211, and a stop or abutment 212 prevents further movement of the parts. The separation of the clutch parts 189 and 198 permits the spring 194 to turn the clutch part 198 back against the stop 195 so that the automatic time control mechanism is automatically reset to provide the same interval between succeeding records.

The worm 211 above referred to is continously driven by a gear 213 in mesh with a gear 214 on a counter shaft 215 which carries a gear 216 in mesh with the gear 93 carried in the shaft 91. The operation of the worm 211 is to feed the retaining dog to the right thereby slowly lowering the tone arm. After the tone arm has been lowered to replace the reproducer on the record, the record will be played in the usual manner until the automatic trip mechanism again starts the apparatus 1n operation. Should the motor be stopped before lowering of the tone arm is Eompleted, it will be held in elevated posi- The presetting mechanism The presetting lnechanism O, by which the elevation of the playing platform is controlled, is in the form of a gear train interconnected with the gears in the platform elevating mechanism. The gear 126 in the platform elevating gear train is in mesh with a gear 220 which drives a bevel pinion 221 in mesh with a bevel gear 222. The gears 220, 221 and 222 are mounted in a frame 223 conveniently supported underneath the upper back part of the top or table 35 of the phonograph. The gear 222 is keyed to a shaft 224 extending up through the table of the phonofinger 200 with graph and provided with actuating knob 225 which carries an indicator 226 adapted to be moved over suitable indicia carried on a bearing member or other device 227. The shaft 224 is slidably mounted in its bearings so that it can be pressed downwardly to actuate a bell crank 228 connected to a link 229 which in turn is connected with a lever 230 pivoted at 231 on the gear box 92. The other end of this lever 230 carries the yoke 232 for actuating the shiftable clutch member 120 and tensioning a spring 233.

When the control button 225 is pushed downwardly as above referred to, the clutch member 120 is disengaged from the pinion 121 by being slid along the shaft to separate thevprojection 234 on the pinion from the recess 235 on the clutch member. This operation disconnects the gear trains from the control shaft 95 and permits one to manually adjust the elevation of the turn table or playing platform by turning the knob 225. As the clutch member and pinion 121 have but one clutching position, it is necessary to actuate the presetting mechanism an amount sufficient to turn the pinion 121 one' or more complete revolutions before these clutch parts will be reengaged.

In the ordinary operation of the phonograph for playing records one after the other, the knob is set to an indication representing the number of records to be played, thereby placing the playing platform at such an elevation that the upper end of the center pin 32 is just underneath the upper surface of the top record after the stack of records has been placed on the playing platform. After the playing of each record, the mechanism will automatically pass through the cycle of operations above referred to and will elevate the playing platform the thickness of a record so that the records are discarded one after the other thereby ultimately returning the knob to the zero position.

The automatic switch The automatic switch P by which the phonograph motor is stopped after the playing of the last record, is shown in Figures 12' and 13. An insulating body 240 is fastened in the bearing member 227 and surrounds the shaft 224. It carries a stationary arc-shaped contact 241 which extends through an arc whose length corresponds with the range of adjustment of the knob 225. A disk 242 of insulating material iskeyed to the shaft 224 and is held in place in the insulating body 240 so that the shaft may slide relative to the disk. This disk 242 carries a'movable contact 243 which is adapted to cooperate with the fixed contact 241.

The switch is so arranged that when the knob 225 is adjusted to place the playing platform in the lowest position (in which it will receive the largest number of records), the

Ill

movable contact 243 is at one end 2 15 of the fixed contact 241. As above described, the moved an amount corresponding to the thickness of a record after the record is played and before it is discarded and hence the movable contact 243 will The lock Q for the platform elevating mechanism may conveniently take the form of a latch 250 shown in Figure 12 adjacent the presetting knob 225. When the presetting knob 225 is pressed downwardly, the latch is forced by a spring 251 over to engage the top of the knob 225 and prevent its return. In this manner the clutch J may be locked in hese parts are locked in this position, the phonograph will play a record indefinitely, the time between the renditions of the record being under the control of the time control mechanism N.

The cabinet The operating mechanism for the autosetting dials 202 and 225 for the phonograph time control between records and platform elevating mechanism are placed in the rear of the cabinet adjacent the pivot for the tone this arrangement, the front left side of the cabinet is unoccupied by any of the phonograph mechanism, and it is possible to uti ize this portion of the cabinet as 241, and, as these cona record receptacle R, the radio receiving the playing platform and are whirled off As here sho the form of a pair of sl are slidably carried When these strips are as well as for housing set. The records, as they are moved to the left from the playing platform onto any suitable are discharged from support to receive the Wn, the support takes oping strips 260 which on rods 261 and 262.

moved to the position indicated in Figure 14 they are spaced so as as they are discarded from the rotating play- A radio receiving set, designated generally by the letter S, is mounted so that the The upper rear left control dials of the set are unaway from one another toward the side walls of the record receptacle.

portion of the table of the instrument is available for mounting the tubes of the radio receiving set.

The present autom atic phonograph permits mounting the radio receiving set in the position indicated and ample room is provided for this set without interference with the amplifying horn of th records.

the phonograph or e automatic mechanism for playing the further important feature in the present design of an automat in the ability phonograph in a cab The top graph is entirely free of ic phonograph resides to incorporate the automatic inet having a hinged or table of the phonomechanism which obstructs the placing of records on the platform or their removal The playing erably tilted at a slight 1ch is approximately at right from the receptacle.

and motor are prefangle, as indicated,

causes the needle of the reproducer to swing over a substantially h face on the record.

orizontal playing sur- The modified comstruction shown in Figures described in detail. the apparatus shown he same reference cha and heretofore In the description of in Figures 16 to 21,

racters will beapplied to parts which are, as illustrated herein, alike in the two forms. Where the parts are substantially the same, the former reference character with the addition of a prime will be used.

The motor C operates through the shaft 91, the gears 93 and 94 and clutch member 97 in the same manner as has been formerly described in detail. The automatic trip G for actuating the clutch 97 is substantially the same as the automatic trip G shown and described in detail heretofore. It is placed between the playing platform B and the top or table 35 of the phonograph, a port on of the latform being broken away as indicated in igure 19. The arms 69' and 75' embrace a pin 300 extending downwardly from the tone arm E so that the automatic trip mechanism moves with the tone arm as the record is being played. The operating lever of the automatic trip G is connected by a link 301 with a lever 302 pivo ed at 303. The lever 302 is connected by a pin and slot 304 with a lever 305 corresponding with the bell crank 81, so as .to actuate the clutch member 97 on the one-revolution control shaft 95'. When the automatic trip is actuated by the tone arm in the completion of the playing of a record, the clutch 97 will be engaged with the gear 94 as formerly described, and the one-revolution shaft will be turned through a complete revolut on and will actuate the mechanisms for raising the reproducer off the record, returnin the tone arm to initial position, elevating the playing platform, and resetting the automatic trip.

The raising of the reproducer F is accomplished by an arm 306 (shown more clearly in Figure 18) carried on the end of the one-revolution shaft 95'. This arm engages a reciprocating plunger 307 carried in a chamber 308 and connected by means of a flexible cord 309 with the reproducer. The am 306 acts on the plunger to force it downwardly in the chamber and through the cord 309 lifts the reproducer off the record. The arm 306 then passes by and the reproducer is held in elevated position on account of the dash pot effect of the plunger in the chamber 308.

The return of the tone arm E is next brought about by'mechanism M, which is operated by a roller 310 on the arm 306 coming into contactwith a member 311 operably connected with the tone arm. This member is slidably carried in a slotted guide 312 mounted on the top 35 of the phonograph, and is connected through a bifurcated arm 313 with the pin 300 carried by the tone arm E. The lower end 314 of the member 311 has a cross section such as indicated in Figure 18, and this member is mounted so that it can be manually shifted on its axis to resent the surface marked 314a or the su ace marked 3146 for engagement with the roller 310. In this manner the extent of return movement of the tone arm can be controlled so that the tone arm is returned to the proper position for playing either 10 inch or 12 inch records.

The platform elevating mechanism utilized in the present construction, is identical with the platform elevating mechanism I heretofore described in detail, and is interconnected with a clutch J, presetting mechanism O, automatic switch P and lock Q as formerly described in detail. It will therefore be apparent that the platform may be elevated the thickness of a record after the playing of each record.

The record removal is accomplished, according to the present construction, by a finger 320 pivoted at 321 and normally held out of engagement with the playing surface of the record by a spring 322. This finger is long enough to engage with either a 10 inch or 12 inch record when it is pulled down against the tension of the spring. The mechanism for actuating this finger is, as

here shown, in the form of a rod 323 connected with a bell crank 324 so placed as to be engaged by the end of the arm 306 after the platform elevating mechanism has elevated the platform to free the upper record from the centering means D, which in the present case may be a solid pin.

The operation of this record removal mechanism is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 20. When the finger 320 is brought down onto the surface of the record, it momentarily arrests the record causing it to find a new center 'of rotation about the finger 320 thereby shifting the center of the record to the left as indicated in Figure 20 causing the record to shift away from the center of the playing platform. The bell crank 324 and arm 306 are so shaped that the arm passes by very quickly thereby permittin the spring 322 to raise the finger 320 o from the record. The whirling rec- 0rd is then rapidly discharged laterally from the surface of th playing platform and is carried into a record receptacle R such as indicated in Figures 20 and 21.

The resetting of the automatic trip is brought about at any convenient time after the reproducer has been elevated and the tone arm returned to the initial position. As here shown, this mechanism L includes an arm 306 which engages a bell crank 330 pivoted at 331 and connected by means of a cord 332 with a bell crank 333 pivoted underneath the table of the phonograph. When the arm 306 swings the bell crank 333 counter clockwise, it causes a pin 334 to move slightly in a slot 335 in the table of the phonograph bringing this pin into the path of a projectlon 336 carried on the playlng platform. The playing latform is continuously revolving and within a short time the 

